Fukuda Machi (福田万智), the 21-year-old strawweight contender from Utsunomiya, Japan, has rapidly ascended as one of RIZIN's most compelling prospects. With a judo foundation, a fan’s passion for combat sports, and a relentless drive to evolve, her journey from spectator to contender encapsulates the spirit of modern mixed martial arts.
Early Life and Transition from Judo to MMA
Roots in Competitive Judo
Fukuda began her athletic journey at age 8 in Tochigi Prefecture’s competitive judo circuit, training at Kawanuma City Kayano Elementary School (鹿沼市加園小). By middle school, she dominated regional tournaments, securing back-to-back spring and fall prefectural championships. However, a devastating ligament tear and fracture during her third-year high school tournament final forced her retirement. As she revealed in RIZIN CONFESSIONS #173: "Judo and I weren’t meant to be—but that loss became my MMA genesis".
The RIZIN Epiphany
In July 2017, Fukuda attended RIZIN FIGHTING WORLD GRAND-PRIX 2017 1st ROUND, witnessing legends like Kyoji Horiguchi and Miyuu Yamamoto. The event’s kinetic energy and storytelling left an indelible mark: "Those fighters showed me how to turn pain into purpose". This experience catalyzed her MMA transition, despite parental reservations about abandoning judo’s traditional path.
Technical Development and Fighting Philosophy
Judo’s Legacy in Her Ground Game
Fukuda’s uchimata (inner thigh throw) and osoto-gari (major outer reap) remain cornerstones of her MMA toolkit. Her 2022 pro debut against ARAMI showcased these skills, with four successful takedowns en route to a unanimous decision. However, early sessions at Pogona Club Saitama exposed grappling gaps. Mentor Yuki Sugiuchi (杉内由紀) recalls: "She’d stay late drilling armbar transitions until the mats were soaked".
Striking Evolution and Hybrid Style
Under Kosuke Umeda (梅田恒介) at 67GYM, Fukuda developed a crisp jab-cross combination blending boxing fundamentals with Muay Thai knee mechanics. This hybrid approach proved decisive in her November 2024 DEEP JEWELS 42 victory over Am "The Rocket," where she transitioned from a standing elbow exchange to a heel hook submission at 3:22 of Round 21.
Career Trajectory and Defining Fights
Breakthrough Performances
Fukuda’s 2023 rear-naked choke victory over HIME at RIZIN Landmark 6 marked her arrival as a submission threat. However, her split-decision loss to Park Si-woo in May 2024 proved transformative. As analyzed in RIZIN CONFESSIONS #173, she overcommitted to striking exchanges, landing 68 significant strikes but conceding 4 takedowns.
Upcoming Challenge: Park Si-woo Rematch
The March 30, 2025 rematch at Anabuki Arena Kagawa tests Fukuda’s revamped takedown defense (85% success rate in last 3 fights). Her camp at Tochigi ZERO Gym incorporated biomechanical motion capture to counter Park’s wrestling-heavy approach, focusing on sprawl mechanics and cage-cutting angles.
Training Ethos and Mentorship
The 67GYM Ecosystem
Fukuda’s regimen blends traditional Japanese discipline with modern sports science:
* 05:30: Trail runs in Nikko National Park
* 09:00: Strength/Conditioning at Tochigi ZERO
* 14:00: Technical drilling at 67GYM
* 19:30: Film study (WEC-era Joanna Jędrzejczyk bouts)
Coach Umeda notes: "Her 90-minute commute? That’s extra visualization time. She diagrams transitions on the steering wheel".
Cross-Promotional Collaborations
Weekly "exchange practices" (出稽古) with Emi Tomatsu (富松恵美) at Tokyo’s Tribe Tokyo MMA have sharpened Fukuda’s scrambles. "Six-hour rounds force you to innovate," Fukuda told RIZIN CONFESSIONS #173, citing a 93% guard-pass success rate since adopting Tomatsu’s knee-slice techniques1.
Psychological Resilience and Fan Engagement
Overcoming Setbacks
After her 2024 loss, Fukuda began working with Dr. Akira Sato on biofeedback training, using heart-rate variability (HRV) monitors during sparring. "Anxiety is just misdirected energy," she stated in a YouTube vlog, demonstrating HRV coherence breathing techniques.
Cultivating a Global Fanbase
Fukuda’s trilingual engagement strategy (Japanese/English/Korean) includes:
* YouTube: Technical breakdowns of RIZIN classics
* Instagram: #MachisMondayDrills challenge (3.2M tags)
* TikTok: Anime-inspired fight choreography (e.g., "Demon Slayer Nezuko Kamado Sweep Tutorial")
Vision for Women’s MMA and Legacy
Expanding Japan’s Global Footprint
Fukuda advocates for RIZIN x UFC crossover events, telling MMA Junkie: "Our 53kg division could dominate the UFC’s 115lb rankings". Her 2027 UFC roadmap includes strategic fights against Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Through Tochigi Youth Grappling Initiative, Fukuda mentors 120+ aspiring fighters. "Strength isn’t ignoring pain—it’s growing through it," she told students during a December 2024 seminar streamed live on RIZIN’s platform.
Conclusion: The Road to Immortality
As Fukuda approaches her career-defining rematch, she embodies MMA’s duality—ancient budō principles fused with AI-driven analytics. Veteran Megumi Fujino summarized her impact in RIZIN CONFESSIONS #173: *"Machi’s the bridge between our kachūshi (fighting spirit) and Gen Z’s digital dojo"*1. With 6 wins (3 subs, 2 KOs) and 2 losses, Fukuda represents not just a fighter to watch, but Japan’s MMA renaissance personified.
1. RIZIN CONFESSIONS #173 (2025). RIZIN FF Official YouTube Channel. Watch Here
2. RIZIN.50 Event Details. RIZIN Official Site. Event Page
3. Fukuda Machi Fighter Profile. RIZIN FF Database. Profile Link
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